Playing rugby
While trainers are fine to train in during the summer, suitable footwear is necessary for the winter, especially when the ground is wet or soft.
The IRB has now passed responsibility for the suitability of rugby boots to the manufacturers and many types of stud are being produced, some of which are 'safer' than others.
We recommend boots with solid, removable aluminium studs.
These studs are the safest, since they wear to a rounded profile. Other studs are available, including removable all nylon, removable nylon with a metal tip (very common on football boots) and moulded non-removable softer-plastic. All can be legal.
Bladed boots are becoming more common because of big-name endorsements by footballers and rugby players alike. These come with two types of blade: non-removable moulded plastic or removable metal blades. Both types can be legal. These boots tend to be more expensive than the tradition ones, typically up to and over £100 per pair, and don't seem to have any advantage over the traditional type. Indeed, several top-name football players have suffered foot injuries, and they all play in these boots. As I understand it, Manchester United FC have prevented all their players using blades because of the fear of injury.
Metal bladed boots are also being blamed for the rise in the number of lacerations suffered by football players in the tackle. Without wishing to alarm, these injuries, while being on the increase, are more common in football due to tackles being made by the feet, than in rugby, where the upper body is used.
All studs can be legal, yet all studs may well be considered dangerous if they are worn to sharp points or edges, or have rough edges. It is therefore the player's (so parents' and coaches') responsibility to make sure his or her studs are safe.
Boots with a single stud at the toe end are illegal for rugby.
The referee will check all the players' studs before a game starts - he or she has the right to prevent a player taking part if s/he considers the studs dangerous. Coaches should also check from time to time in training.
